Shifting strap for agricultural implements



Sept. --l 1 s. H. #HELPS SHIFTING STRAP FOR AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS Riied May 24 1919 frz verz 607 Patented Sept. ll, i923.

unirse enterar oniricae SPENCER H.4 PHELPS, OF MINNEAPOLS, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE AS- `SIGrNIlIENTS, TO BEETEAN TRACTOR COMPANY, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, A

CORPORATION OF IlIINNESOTA.

SHIFTNG STRAP FOR AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS.

Application filed May 24,

To all whom t may concern Be it known that l, SPENCER H. Pi-innrs, a citizen of the UnitedStates, resident of ll'linneapolis, county of Hennepin, State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Shifting Straps for Agricultural Implements, ot which the following is a Specification.

My invention relates to an attachment for an agricultural implement and particularly a garden tractor in which the cultivator or other round-workinjir implement is connected with the handle or steering bars to enable the operator to lift the implement or shitt it from side to side during the operation of the machine. y

The object of my invention is to provide a connection betweenthe handle bars and the ground-working implement which will allow the implement to be raised, shifted from side to side, as desired, without any danger of cramping or bindingr the connections. i

@ther objects of the invention will appear troni the following detailed. description.

.The invention consists `generally in various constructions and combinations, all as hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims. i

In the accompanying drawings 'forming part of this specification,

Figure l is a side view of a garden tractor with Vmy invention applied thereto,

Figure 2 is a. sectional view ot the shifting' device,

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line ot Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line 4 4 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a detail view showingr the connections of the shittingv devices with the steering posts. y

In the drawings, 2 represents a garden tractor having steering posts 3 and 4, pivoted at 24 for vertical movement on the machine and mounted for rotary movement on a longitudinal axis for adjustingr the ground-working implement from side to side of the machine. These posts are also moved laterally to oscillate the tractor on a vertical axis to steer it between the rows of plantsA 5 represents a ground-working implement 1919. Serial No. 299,551.

having draft connections 6 with the trame of l'the tractor and suitable 2guide or caster wheels 7. I have shown this implement provided with cultivators S but my invention may be used with other ground-working implements, such as a plow with a beam, if preferred. The attachment, however, and the manner of using' the device are substantially the same for all kinds of ground-working implements and it is sufficient, therefore, in this case to merely illustrate the application to one style.

The steering` posts 3 and i are provided with collars 9 having holes therein to receive the posts and secured thereon by means of set screws 10. A shank ll has parallel arms l2 formed thereon at one end to straddle the lower portion oit the collar 9 and bolt 13 passing through said arms and through said collar pivotally connect them and allows freedom ot oscillation of the shank torward and backward with respect to the steering posts.

1.4 represents a. rod loosely fittingr within a socket l5 in the shank ll and tree to rotate therein, or the shank may rotate on the rod. The lower portion ot the shank has a recess 16 therein and a collar 17 is mounted on the rod within said recess and secured b v suitable means, such as a set screw 18. This collar holds the rod and shank against relative longitudinal movement while permitting them to rotate freely one upon the other.

The lower end oi' the rod has a longitudinal slot i9 therein and a holt Q0 mounted in the trame 5 ol" the nrouud-workine implement passes through this slot and allows freedom ot oscillation ot the rod thereon and also a limited vertical movement. This shifting device is in ell'ect a universal joint connection between the -frame ot the `roundworkingr implement and the steering posts and besides having all the functions oi littingr straps for transmittingy downward pressure of the steering posts on the trame of the agricultural implement and liftingr the implement clear of the ground when the posts are raised, also allows freedom ot longitudinal rotation of the posts to shift the implement from side to side or lateral movement thereof to steer the machine. The device for allowing freedom of movement of the posts is flexible, as much so as a chain or cable would be at this point.. but for exerting a downward pressure on the frame of the ground-working implement the connection becomes rigid and inflexible.

ln Figure 5 I have shown the steering posts 3 and a mounted in a casting 2l for rotary movement on a longitudinal axis, such movement being limited by means of collars 22 fitting Within recesses in the castings and mounted on the posts and secured by means of set screws 23. Vertical movement of the posts is accomplished by oscillation of the casting 2l with the posts on a horizontal pivot 24 that is mounted in the yoke 25 that is connected to the frame of the machine at 26' and 27.

I claim asmy invention:

l. A universal joint connection comprising a shank having a pivoted horizontal bearing and a` rod having a comparatively long` vertical bearing in said shank. y

2. A universal joint connection comprising a shank having a pivoted horizontal bearing and a rod having a comparatively long vertical bearing in said shank, said rod having freedom ofrotary moxrement in said shank but held againstr longitudinal' movement. V

3. A universal joint comprising a shank, a block having a horizontal pivot therein and' a socket., a rod fitting a longitudinal socket in said shank andv having freedom of rotary movement therein.

i t. A. universal joint comprising a shank, a rod ttinggwi'thin a longitudinal socket in wies/,685

said shank, and afcollar mounted on said rod and permitting rotary movement thereof in said shank but preventing longitudinal movement. Y

5. A universal join-t comprising a shank having a forked end. a block having ahorizontal pivot n said forked end and provided with a socket7 said shank having a longitudinal socket therein, a rod fitting Within said socket, and means permitting rotary movement of said rod in said socket and preventing longitudinal movement thereof.

6. A universal joint comprising a shank having a connecting means pivoted at one end transversely of the shank a connecting means at the other end of said shank and mounted for rotary movement in said shank but held against longitudinal movement therein,

7. A universal joint comprising a shank or member mounted at one end thereof for oscillation on a horizontal pivot, a member mounted in the other end of said shank for rotation on a longitudinali axis'.

S. A universal joint comprising a shank or member mounted at one end thereof for oscillation on a horizontal pivot a member mounted in the other end of said shank for rotationon a longitudinal axis, and said last named member having means for preventing longitudinal movement thereof in s aid shank.

In Witness 'vv/hereof, I have hereunto set my hand this lthday of May, 1919. Y

SPENCER H. PHELPS. 

